Welcome for Accident & Emergency review – Maeve McLaughlin

Sinn Féin MLA Maeve
McLaughlin has welcomed the setting up of a review into emergency care, which
is to be carried out by the Regulation and Quality
Improvement Authority (RQIA).

The review follows a major incident being
declared at the RVH last month in what should have been a routine evening.

The Sinn Féin MLA who
is also Chair of the Assembly’s Health Committee said:

“I welcome this
announcement by the Minister into what is going on in Emergency Departments and
especially considering what happened in the RVH on a routine evening last
month.

“I assume the minister
is now recognising that there is a crisis in Emergency Care and that he has
finally decided to act before the situation gets worse.

“It is welcome news
that external experts will be conducting the review into the RVH incident.
Crucially we need to rectify the clear meltdown in Accident & Emergency
following the closures of A&E at the City hospital.

“I will be now seeking
information from the minister around the terms of reference for the review and
its expected impact on other hospitals.”